Nekton
Nekton are self-propelling plankton. This means that they can move themselves in the water as opposed to drifting in the current like plankton do. Purpose
The purpose of collecting the nekton is to see what kind of life the water body is capable of supporting. The nekton can be used as bioindicators and can provide insight into the overall quality of the pond. Materials
Water-proof wading pants, nekton net, bucket, a partner, and a dichotomus key. Water-proof pants
Nekton net A bucket
Also needed: another person and a dichotomous key. Procedure
Put on the pants and grab the net. Walk into the water with the net, pants, and other person. Place both poles on the ground, with the chain side on the bottom of the water body. Proceed to walk forward with the net dragging on the ground. Walk about 10 steps. Making sure to keep the net moving forward, raise the net above the water and empty the contents into the bucket. Repeat this process about two or three times.
Next, return to the classroom with the bucket and analyze the contents. Analyzing
The tester should examine each of the organisms collected individually and, using a dichotomous key, name each one. After naming the organisms, they should be placed into the fish tank in order to keep them alive.
Importance
Gathering the Nekton is important because it allows you to see the variety of creatures a water body can support. As stated earlier, these creatures can be used as bioindicators. A large variety of creatures, including some that are pollution sensitive, means that the water body is healthy. A small number of organisms, from the pollution resistant group, means that the water body is not as healthy. Identification guides can be used to determine what creatures are pollution resistant and what creatures are intolerant. The more pollution-intolerant creatures, alongside all other creatures, there are present, the healthier the water body is.
General Results:
Due to the nature of the test, there are no general results. Creatures are common in certain areas but there are no typical results or a line drawn where the body of water can be considered "healthy". However, as stated before, the more diverse the creatures, the better in a body of water. The important part to know here is that it isn't the sheer number of creatures present that indicates a healthy body of water, it is the diversity of creatures. If there are 100 different species with only one organism for each specie, the body of water is healthier than if it was 100 organisms of the same species.
Nekton are self-propelling plankton. This means that they can move themselves in the water as opposed to drifting in the current like plankton do.
Purpose
The purpose of collecting the nekton is to see what kind of life the water body is capable of supporting. The nekton can be used as bioindicators and can provide insight into the overall quality of the pond.
Materials
Water-proof wading pants, nekton net, bucket, a partner, and a dichotomus key.
Also needed: another person and a dichotomous key.
Procedure
Put on the pants and grab the net. Walk into the water with the net, pants, and other person. Place both poles on the ground, with the chain side on the bottom of the water body. Proceed to walk forward with the net dragging on the ground. Walk about 10 steps. Making sure to keep the net moving forward, raise the net above the water and empty the contents into the bucket. Repeat this process about two or three times.
Next, return to the classroom with the bucket and analyze the contents.
Analyzing
The tester should examine each of the organisms collected individually and, using a dichotomous key, name each one. After naming the organisms, they should be placed into the fish tank in order to keep them alive.
Importance
Gathering the Nekton is important because it allows you to see the variety of creatures a water body can support. As stated earlier, these creatures can be used as bioindicators. A large variety of creatures, including some that are pollution sensitive, means that the water body is healthy. A small number of organisms, from the pollution resistant group, means that the water body is not as healthy. Identification guides can be used to determine what creatures are pollution resistant and what creatures are intolerant. The more pollution-intolerant creatures, alongside all other creatures, there are present, the healthier the water body is.
General Results:
Due to the nature of the test, there are no general results. Creatures are common in certain areas but there are no typical results or a line drawn where the body of water can be considered "healthy". However, as stated before, the more diverse the creatures, the better in a body of water. The important part to know here is that it isn't the sheer number of creatures present that indicates a healthy body of water, it is the diversity of creatures. If there are 100 different species with only one organism for each specie, the body of water is healthier than if it was 100 organisms of the same species.